A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Open day for courses in green energy
Whether Ireland or even Dublin has a future as a green-energy financial hub – with proposals for green investments and fund administration, carbon trading and a green bond market based at the IFSC – remains to be seen, but the green-technology sector is attracting funding, and efforts to train people for jobs in the green economy continue to grow. The Green Works training programme for job seekers is one initiative that offers Fetac level five training in renewable energy, organic production and food processing, and ecotourism, among other areas. An open day on forthcoming courses will be held in the ecovillage in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, on Tuesday from 2pm to 5pm. See green-works.ie or call 085-7131412.
Closing date extended for Eco-Unesco competition
The number of groups entering the Eco-Unesco Young Environmentalist Award has increased by 40 per cent from last year. To give more young people a chance to get involved, Eco-Unesco has extended the closing date for registration of projects until December 22nd. The competition, open to 10- to 18-year-olds, involves a project on one of nine subjects, such as biodiversity, climate change, energy, waste or transport, before February 25th. See ecounesco.ie or call 01-6625491.
Biodiversity showcase runs all week
Environmental groups launched a showcase of biodiversity projects and events this week at European Union House on Dawson Street in Dublin. “In Biodiversity Year, our Celtic Tiger was pronounced stone dead, but what about our real species? For most genetic strains, species and habitats, we simply don’t know,” says Karin Dubsky of Coastwatch. The free exhibition continues until next Friday. See ien.ie or call 01-8780116.
Ecoweb
thegreenway.ie
A green economic zone aiming to create an alliance of businesses, academic institutions and local authorities, including Ballymun Regeneration, Dublin Airport Authority, Dublin City University, Dublin Institute of Technology and Fingal County Council.
